The beginning: Today in history: Dede Ayew signs first professional contract

Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew, son of Ghana legend Abedi ‘Pele’, on this day 28th May, 2007 signed his first professional deal with French side Marseille.

Dede Ayew now 24 years was 17 years when he completed a three-year deal to keep him at the club until June 2010.

Dede joined Marseille as a trainee in 2005 and impressed by scoring 11 goals with the second team in the 2009/10 season.

“I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to play for the first team of this great club,” Dede told BBC Sport.

“I know this is the result of the hard work I have done since joining the club two years ago.

“I will not let this opportunity slip past me as I will do everything possible to justify the confidence reposed in my ability.”

Abedi was part of the Marseille team that won the Champions League in 1993 and also won the league title with the club in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

Andre Ayew since 2007, have had a successful career with both nation and club.

He was part of the Ghana team that that won bronze in the 2008 African Cup of Nations on home soil.

Andre Ayew played a vital role to help Ghana finish runners-up in 2010 and was also key in the Black Stars team that reached the quarter finals in the 2010 World Cup to equal African best performance in the mundial, set by Cameroon and Senegal in 1990 and 2002 competitions respectively.

In addition the son of the maestro Abedi Pele captained the Ghana U-20 team that became the first and only African sides to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009

For his club Marseille, he helped them to win the French League Cup in 2010 and 2011.

Andre crowned his good performance with both club and nation by winning the BBC African footballer of the year in 2011 and finished as 2nd runner-up in the CAF African footballer of the year.